Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-07-22
WHY HE WANTS A DIVORCE.
LIEUT.. GRAYDoN's WIFE DRAWS A
CHECK FOR HIS WHOLE FORTUNE
AND ABANDONS HIM.

LIEUT.. GRAYDONS WIFE DRAWS A
CHECK FOR HIS WHOLE FORTUNE
AND ABANDONS HIM.
[ indianapolis Telegram to the New York
Ierald.l
The divorce suit Of Lieut.. James
w. Graydon is like the lieutenant
himself, quite extraordinary. In
diana people are cOnnoisseurs in
divorce matters, and they all agree
that Lieut.. Graydon tells a story OF
marital misiOrtunes of unusual in.
terest. The lieutenant, although a
young man, is pretty well known,
not only in the United States, but
throughout the world, among peo-
pie who devote their lives to the
study of warfare. He is the inyen.
tor of new dynamite cartridge,
and also has the exclusive control
of a wonderful method of using
dynamite in warfare. lie has just
returned from Russia, where he
gave demonstrations of the utility
of his invention TO the Cars war
staff, completely demolishing in 20
minutes a target of steel that was
built at an expense OF $1,000, and
was supposed to be indestructible.
The purpose of his visit to In.
dianapolis is to push his divorce
suit. He tells the story of his mar.
ital vicissitudes in a complaint OF
considerable length. His wife is a
New Orleans lady, whom be met
while still in the United States
Navy. He was married to her in
October, 1876, and Immediately at
forwards came to this city, where
he spent a honeymoon of six months,
having obtained leave of absence
for that length of time. Society
people who still remember we'll that
period of the married life Of the
dashing lieutenant and his beantl
ful bride, thought they were a very
happy couple, IN every way suited
to each other, and are very mucl
astOunded by the disclosures thai
have Just been made. At the ex
piration of his leave the lieutenant
was ordered on duty at Washing
ton, ID. c., and remained there I'M
til 1894, when he was ordered t
China.
While in China he was joined a
Hong Kong by his wife and TIVE
children and all his wife's family
consisting of her father, mother anC
two sisters, for all of whom he pro
vided. While temporarily residing
at Hong Kong in June, 1885, hi
business called him away shor
distance, and on his return h.
found that his wife, with the as
sistance of her relatives, had pack
ed up all his effects and was abOu
to abandon him. She did lmmedi
ately leave him, and with her rela
tives sailed for the United States
landing at San Francisco.
Before leaving on his bushes
trip he gave her a blank check
signed by him, on the Hong Kon
and Shanghai Banking Company
to be filled out by her for such
sum as she needed for household
expenses while he was away, th
complaint alleges, and without hi
knowledge or consent she filled on
the check for a sum covering hi
entire balance in bank, whic
amounted to about $27, 000-all tn
money or property Of value he pos
sessed. With this money, the chi
dren, and his personal effects, in
Guiding private trunks, she aban
dOned him.
lie was, he says, suffering at tn
time from severe injury, and a
soon as he was able he came I
San Francisco, where she had bee
temporarily stopping, and wrote t
her, offering to support her AM
their children, but she refused {
answer him. She and the famil.
soon afterwards left San francisco
and her present address, he alleges
is now unknown 10 him. UpOl
this statement of grievances, b
asks the court TO grant him a de
cree of separation from Mrs. Gray
don. The Lieutenant has a grea
deal more money than 1000 now
having grown rich in the last tw
years from his warlike inventions